Dear Ukrainians!
First of all, I want to thank all our warriors today. We continue to carry out Ukraine’s long-range sanctions plan. Last night, Ukraine delivered new active sanctions: targets were struck in Russia’s Samara region, more than 800 kilometers from our state border. A fuel facility in Tatarstan was also hit. Ukraine is responding to Russia’s war in a fully justified way, and our warriors are doing so with precision. It is important that we are also achieving our objectives on the frontline. Russian assaults must not deliver the results set by Russia’s political leadership. This matters from every perspective. The key is for us to finally be able to move toward real, effective diplomacy. The frontline must disappoint Russia. And that is a prerequisite for the main goal all of us need: peace for Ukraine. I thank everyone who understands this and who is defending our national interests in exactly the way it must be done.
Yesterday and today have been a very active time for our political decision-making. Yesterday, I held meetings with Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov, and Minister of Finance Serhii Marchenko. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Hnatov have confirmed it. A course of action has been approved – to increase the financial sustainability of our defense and ensure the continued transformation of the Ukrainian Army. I am grateful to the members of parliament who adopted the budget changes to strengthen our defense. I am grateful to our partners who are helping us.
First – pay. We have the resources to increase pay in the military. The minimum will be 30,000 hryvnias in rear areas. The more combat missions, the higher the level of pay. There will be new, significantly stronger contracts for infantry personnel. On average, 300,000 hryvnias on the front line. Everything depends on Ukrainian infantry, on our Ukrainian infantryman. The contracts will be structured to ensure clarity: contract terms of 10, 14, and 24 months with clear conditions – meaning cleartemporary discharge. Guaranteed terms – and real temporary discharge. In addition, payments for Ukrainian combat commanders will be increased, and this should create a positive incentive to preserve command experience within the Army. The Cabinet of Ministers will approve the specific mechanism, and the first new payments are expected to begin in June.
Second, I am grateful to all the volunteers from other countries who are fighting for our freedom in Ukraine, understanding that this concerns the freedom of many other nations as well. Here in Ukraine, we must defend our people’s right to live freely, which will certainly help many other nations. I have instructed that significantly more opportunities be opened for foreign volunteers to join the Ukrainian Army. There will be additional recruitment mechanisms to support this.
Third, further simplification of transfers for warriors, more opportunities to advance within the Army, and more positive incentives to join the defense. Direct funding for combat brigades has already proven very effective. A fairer monthly distribution of personnel among our brigades is already in place. We are also expanding the brigades’ ability to conduct basic military training independently. These are solid foundations for moving, through increased pay and new contracts, toward the introduction of specific terms – defined terms of service. I expect every element of the changes now being implemented to show its effectiveness this summer. The Ministry of Defense will present the details of the decisions.
And absolutely, every day, including today and in the coming days, please pay attention to air-raid alerts. We understand who we are dealing with and what Russia is counting on. Instead of peace, they choose missiles. They have no other cards left. We must rely on our own strength and vigilance. Please stay safe.
Glory to Ukraine!